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The weekend's hot and dry weather, combined with some passing thunderstorms, have sparked several new wildfires in northwest Montana. Flathead National Forest officials say that five new, lightning-caused, blazes were discovered over the weekend.

The 500 acre Rapid Creek Fire is burning in the Spotted Bear Ranger District and no fire crews are currently on scene with smoke from the fire visible from the Flathead Valley to the south and east.

Forest spokesperson Eric Muehlhof also tells us that helicopters are also dropping water on two fires that are each a half an acre in size in the Spotted Bear Ranger District, while another wildfire was contained at one-tenth of an acre.

(photo of Rapid Creek Fire courtesy inciweb.org)

Finally, 16 firefighters along with helicopter support are battling the three acre Coal Creek fire that's burning in the Hungry Horse Ranger District.

Click here to view a map of the fires burning in the Flathead National Forest.